Crystal Palace's Conference League win secures two pieces of European history

Crystal Palace's Conference League final victory brought two pieces of history after they beat Rayo Vallecano to win a first European crown.

In Oliver Glasner's final game at the helm, Palace beat the La Liga side in Leipzig to secure qualification to next season's Europa League - the competition that the 2025 FA Cup winners were initially supposed be in this season after a controversial UEFA ruling demoted them.

Star striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored the only goal of the goal five minutes after half-time, tapping home after an Adam Wharton shot was spilled and performing his trademark corner-kicking celebration as Palace fans erupted.

Palace will join Bournemouth and Sunderland in next season's Europa League, qualifying for the league phase after their incredible achievement.

Their triumph does not bring an additional European place next season but it does mean that a record nine teams will be in Europe for the second year on the trot.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool will all play in the Champions League next term - the latter finishing fifth but benefiting from the European Performance Spot (EPS) given to the Premier League.

Brighton, meanwhile are in the Conference League again after coming eighth ahead of Brentford on goal difference.

Crystal Palace man makes European history against Rayo Vallecano

Another bit of history was made in the Conference League final courtesy of Ivory Coast international Evann Guessand.

The former Nice star became the first player to win two European trophies in the same season.

The forward, a £30.5 million signing for Aston Villa in August, played seven times in the Europa League and scored two goals as Unai Emery's men went all the way.

He was loaned out to Palace in January and has played 13 times - including making six appearances in their Conference League-winning campaign.

The 24-year-old scored against Zrinjski Mostar in he play-off in February and played his part in the triumph by coming off the bench in the second half.

He now achieves a feat that has never happened in football previously.

Former Manchester United star Antony came close last season after leading Real Betis to the Conference League final - where they were defeated 4-1 by Chelsea.

United, his parent club, reached the Europa League final but lost to Spurs in an all-Premier League final.

Both the Europa League and Conference League winners belong to the Premier League, with sides from England lifting multiple major European trophies for the first time since 2019.

Arsenal could take it a step further into uncharted territory if they beat holders Paris Saint-Germain to win this season's Champions League in Budapest on Saturday.